Learn how to register your automobile, trailer, boat, snowmobile or ATV. Use our Excise Tax Estimator to get an idea of the amount of Excise Tax you should expect to pay.
- New Maine License Plates 2025
- Automobile/Trailer
- Boat
- Snowmobile / ATV
Starting May 1, 2025, Maine’s chickadee license plates will no longer be issued. All vehicles with chickadee plates—including those with vanity or low-digit plates—will receive one of the new Pine Tree or No Tree plate designs at the time of renewal.
Top: Pine Tree design, Bottom: No Tree design
Plate Replacement Process
- Renewals: The Ellsworth Tax Office will temporarily stock the new plates and issue them during registration renewals. Starting in May 2025, all renewals for vehicles with chickadee plates will be given the new plate designs.
- New Registrations: Must still be processed at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) office and cannot be done through the Tax Office.
- Registrations Expiring Before May 1, 2025: Vehicles with registrations that expire before May 1 will not receive new plates until their next renewal. Example: If your registration expired on April 30, 2025, and you renew on May 15, you will keep your chickadee plate until your next renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are the plates changing? In 2023, State Legislature gave the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicle until May 1, 2025 to design and issue a new plate to replace all current chickadee plates. The last reissuance was in 1999 and many chickadee plates are old, in disrepair, or have lost their reflectivity.
Which plates are affected? Current plates with a chickadee will be replaced. This includes:
- Passenger, commercial, antique, disability, combination, motor home, custom vehicle, bus, farm, commercial tractor, tractor, special equipment, hire, low-speed, horseless carriage, and street rod plates.
What if I don’t like either new plate design? You can opt for a specialty plate instead by paying a $20.00 specialty plate fee. These are not available at City Hall. Specialty plate options include:
- Sportsman, Animal Welfare, Black Bear, Lighthouse, Conservation, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Agriculture plates.
Can I keep my Vanity/Low Digit/Current Plate Number?
If you have a vanity plate, a low-digit plate, or simply want to keep your current plate number, you’ll need to reserve your plates. This can be done for a one-time $25.00 fee.
To reserve:
- Visit the Ellsworth Tax Office for a paper form
- Stop by a local BMV branch (e.g., Ellsworth)
- Reserve online: Reserve Your Plate
Reserved plates will be mailed to you about one month before renewal. You must bring the reserved plate with you when renewing at City Hall to ensure it can be used. If you do not bring the reserved plate you will be unable to renew.
Will I get a new plate with a vehicle transfer? No. Vehicle transfers do not qualify for a new plate through the Tax Office. You’ll keep your current plate until your next renewal.
Online Rapid Renewal
The City of Ellsworth offers online renewal of your motor vehicle registration and to pay your local excise tax in one simple transaction. You should receive your new registration certificate and stickers within 7 business days. If your registration will expire within 7 days, and you are planning to travel out-of-state with your vehicle, you may wish to renew your registration in person at your municipal office. Re-registrations may also be processed at a motor vehicle branch office, after payment of excise tax has been made at your municipality. To use this service, you will need your current vehicle registration, your insurance card, your vehicle’s current mileage and a printer. Visit the Vehicle & Trailer Registration Renewal Service to register your vehicle or trailer online.
Re-Registration of a Vehicle / Trailer
Residents have the option of paying the excise tax at City Hall and completing the re-registration process at the Department of Motor Vehicle, or completing the entire process at City Hall for an additional $5.00 fee. When completing just the excise portion at City Hall you will need to bring the old registration form for the vehicle/trailer. If you would like to complete the entire process at City Hall you will need to bring the old registration form, the current insurance card, and the current mileage for the vehicle/trailer you wish to register.
Registration of a New Vehicle / Trailer that Needs a License Plate
Residents will need to pay the excise tax on the new vehicle/trailer at City Hall. You will then complete the registration process at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Registration of a New Vehicle / Trailer that You are Transferring Plates to
Residents have the option of paying the excise tax at City Hall and completing the registration process at the Department of Motor Vehicle, or completing the entire process at City Hall for an additional $4.00 fee. When completing just the excise portion at City Hall you will need to bring the old registration form for the vehicle/trailer you wish to transfer plates from, along with the paperwork for the new vehicle. If you would like to complete the entire process at City Hall you will need to bring the old registration form for the vehicle/trailer you wish to transfer plates from, the current insurance card for the new vehicle, and the current mileage for the vehicle you wish to register.
Calculate your Excise Tax
For your convenience, we have provided an Excise Tax Estimator. This tool is designed to give you an idea of the amount of your Excise Tax. The actual amount may be different.